First batch of scarse Bibles handed out.

The Shona Bible is pretty much out of print everywhere in the world. I had to wait 2 years to get this very scarce batch of Bibles from a very interesting source hidden away. No, relax I am not smuggling secret Bibles ........ except through the Zimbabwe/Mozambique borders. Need to be careful here .... I will give my mom sleepless nights (and she is not in Seattle).
Anyway a glorious day a few days ago when I could hand out 15 Shona Bibles to a local pastor, Zarco Kwaramba. He is a church planter and waited patiently with me in prayer before we could get our hands on this batch of Bibles.
With Zimbabwe still in crisis mode no Bibles are printed there. Shona is pretty much the official language in Zimbabwe but the Bible Society in Zimbabwe refuses to hand over their printing plates to South Africa or any country for that matter. The result was - NO Bibles for a few years.

Mathew Hurekure (left) is our administrator on the base and was just as relief as I was to hand over these 15 Bibles. Our Bibles are not handed out randomly but to pastors and leaders who can read and write and who we have had very good relationships with.

Many thanks again to: Johan Terreblanche, Nuwe Hoogte Gemeente (Robertson) and Bellville Gemeente who made this possible. You have made many people smile!

After a 7 hour church service you should ............

........ be able to learn at least 2 new songs (in a strange language);
........ be able to make at least 10 new friends that you have never met before;
........ be able to swop seats at least 7 times;
........ be able to count all the tiles on the floor;
........ be able to work through all the gum in your pocket;
........ always ask what they expect of you!

Doesn't matter though .... had a great service with people I have never met before. Their hunger and thirst for the Word was phenomenal. For the record: I only preached 45 minutes (and that includes the interpreter)! Anyway .... let me share a few photos as the DVD is so long it will set a new Guinness Book of Records for a church service.

The band was there .... in full force. And boy did they play. The guitarist had to get a glove to protect his hand after 4 hours. A time to get together again! This time to eat.

The best part of the meal (including the strange chicken that peeped at me through the pot) was to make new friends .... and I realized again: One of the most intimate things you can do with a stranger is to eat together and experience life from their point of view. Great times!

Colouring in our world!

DID YOU KNOW?

The family Chamaeleonidae are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, and the possession by many of a prehensile tail, crests or horns on their distinctively shaped heads, and the ability of some to change color.

Well apart from the parrot-like feet, very long tongue a prehensile tail we have the same ability to change color. Mozambique is a unique and colorful place - including personalities.

With everyone helping us from so far as Cape Town, South Africa here is how some colour was brought back to Mozambique:

Some of our orphan houses got a new paint job! These houses usually hosts a family (mother - widow) and three orphans. They work as a normal family unit would.

Groups visiting from South Africa took the task on their shoulders to colour-in the world of our orphan families.

WOMEN CONSTANTLY CHANGE COLOR TOO!

Our Ladies program, Simukai (which is a Shona word meaning "Stand Up!") is still very busy after the harvesting season. They are currently busy embroidering designs for Mozambican aprons, handbags and napkins. And off course mothers and their children are inseparable - so also "not paying" attention as kids sometimes do.

There are currently 400 ladies in different schools around the country which are attending similar schools. Each school has their own monitor and teacher and receives their training at the mission base.These programs will allow ladies to empower themselves and find a means to support their families. All proceeds of their products goes back into the hands of the ladies in the program. And in the process ...... they keep colouring in the world in Mozambique.

Light still shining on kids!

I promised our school kids that I would convey their thank you's to all who helped us made this dream a possibility. Our Mighty Light project will help many of our sponsored kids to study at night for the first time. Kids were not able to study at night or had to use dangerous candles or carosine lamps if they had the money.

Through the Million Lights project we got hold of the Mighty Light which is a powerful LCD light that are charged by a small solar panel. Eight hours charging through the solar panel will provide lights for up to 3 days.

We are currently sponsoring 49 kids who will all have the opportunity to study at night. Watch this space as we keep sending you stories on how this will change lives throughout Mozambique.

In the process you may ask how you could be part of our program and make a huge difference. I am so glad you asked. You could VOTE for our project by clicking http://www.communicause.com/my-cause/4195 and vote for us. In the process Million Lights stand the change of winning US$ 25 000 which will also benefit the program in Mozambique.

Happy Birthday MADIBA!

Photo: A painting made in Cape Town yesterday to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday today. The painting is made with handprints from thousands of people.

Happy birthday Madiba. What a remarkable man, leader and statesman. I can think of more than 91 reasons what makes him a great leader. To understand the man a little bit better I quote from his statement at the Rivonia trial:

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." - Nelson Mandela

Read all about it at: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1960s/rivonia.html

A million lights, E-Bay and 250 happy de"light"ful kids!

I don't pretend to understand life at all! And the way things work out some time .... well as a "to-be philosopher" of life difficult to find words to explain to people life's mysteries. BUT .... I know one thing: When things come together in Africa they usually come together in a big BIG way!

Photo: Francois with some of the very exiting (if you look at those smiles) school kids receiving lights for their school.

Take a lady Anna Sidana from India for example. She runs a marvelous project called Million Lights . She has an awesome dream.

Billions of people around the world lack even the most basic services, from electricity to clean water. More than a third of the world's people live without access to electricity. The arrival of dusk often brings darkness to lives, education & livelihoods.

Millions of homes in India & around the world are left to the mercy of dim light from dangerous, polluting & expensive-to-use kerosene oil lamps. Equally, even larger millions have little or erratic power.

The growing energy crisis heralds the urgent need for novel solutions. Can Disruptive Technology help cut through the mire of age old problems? Can Renewable Energy light a path to a new dawn? The answer is YES WE CAN! (And I am not quoting President Obama!)

Photo: The whole school celebrating the fact that they would be able to study at night in their homes. Where we are in rural Mozambique there is NO services, electricity or running water available.

Mission

Anna says: "Our mission is to improve the daily lives of adults and children in rural parts of the world."

One Million Lights

Our first initiative is in the area of solar lighting, with a focus on education. Our goal is to distribute one million (1,000,000) solar lights to schools, children and adults around the world. One Million Lights is a part of the World of Color public charity, a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Palo Alto, CA.

Anna contacted us via Rian van der Merwe (E-Bay) and we start discussing joining forces in Mozambique to start the spread of the MIGHTY LIGHT for our rural schools. We have NO electricity or any other services.

Photo: Our school teachers - Joao, Tito and Paulo "handling" the Mighty Light.

BACK TO MOZAMBIQUE

Our first set of lights flew 1 000's of miles around the globe before I could pick them up and bring them through the borders. Well ..... our first launch of the MIGHTY LIGHTS was a phenomenon to experience. The communities who attended the launch were overwhelmed. Teachers and kids spontaneously clapped their hands as lights would now be available for the first time at night. Studying at night would be possible for the first time. Teachers could not believe their eyes.

Photo: Ernesto Abudu receiving his first Mighty Light for our bush clinic that had to survive in the bush with no light at all. These lights are charged with a small solar panel and provides light for 3 days after only 8 hours of charging.

It was a great day with a few hundred people attending - pleading for lights. Unfortunately we could only start with our bush school and our bush clinics.

Photo: Everyone wanted to touch the light. Photo on top shows the parents of our children coming in for a closer check!

PS: Will be uploading the great video to thank Million Lights (Ana Sidana and E-Bay) for sponsoring the lights. Watch our interesting updates as we take our lights further up in Mozambique.

Life doesn't always work out!

Some deep philosophical thinker once said:


"The place you belong is where your deepest sorrows and your deepest joys in life meet!"


Then for me ...... Mozambique must be it. As you would already know that the last few months we have lost many loved ones in Mozambique. Many of these people we have known for more than 10 years ......... others like baby Kenead (a small HIV baby) I have known only for a few days. I do this posting only in remembrance of her.


Nobody knew her. She was only on the planet for a few months. The first time I heard about her was from a group of nurses who visited from Canada. They tried everything! Hospitals and clinics said after a blood transfusion - "we have to send her home." When I visited her home her mother only cried. She wept so much that we had to hold her. Baby Kenead looked in my eyes as I held her. Her tongue was white due to the parasites. Her big eyes watched me ..... no more tears. I could see her pain though ..... I could feel it. It made me weep. And although the world didn't know her - I knew God did.


I tried my best to believe ..... only to call in some visitors to help me pray ......... and then little Kenead died. No roses on the grave ..... just a shallow grave in a small wooden coffin ...... and life goes on.


This is to all the mothers and fathers fighting the fight to save their HIV babies. And this is to all those people out there in the world who cares - God loves ya!

Seeds of Transformation

To have nearly 50 transformational agents at your disposal is in itself a huge blessing. Just think what the world can be like with 50 true transformational young people. I am thinking of:

* Changing peoples minds on global warming;

* Getting the G8 to follow-up on their endeavours and dreams;

* Help Africa to sustain itself with good governance and using its people to reach their full

potential;

* Being "present" where people are hurting.

We were lucky to have had another 23 young students from the University of Stellenbosch. They made a huge impression on all of us as they inquisitively looked around where they could be of help. And they jumped right in:

Photo: The Stellenbosch University students helped us to paint several orphan houses in the community.

Photo: One of the more serious paint teams. I think this group was highly intellectual and consisted out of a teacher, PR marketer, a physicist, a medical student and an accountant.


Photo: A brother-sister team, Stephan and Liezl, transforming a house in our community.


CHEERING UP THE SICK


At one of our orphan communities we also house 2 people who has leprosy. One of our leprosy patients already lost both her hands and struggle to do her home chores daily. Our orphan kids helps her daily to carry water and cook for her. Students decided to paint her house and the joy was unspeakable.

We had various medical students with us reaching out to the communities. They visited our 2 bush clinics and spend a day helping out. Here is Marlie Marais (we call her M&M) making sure everything is hygienic and clean!

AND THEN ........ THERE WERE ATHLETICS

Mozambique has a well-known gold medalist, Maria Matola. She is a great sprinter and has won many Olympic medals in the 800m sprints. (Well .... the way they run it must be a sprint!) The students made use of the opportunity to train our bush schools by hosting their own "Olympic athletics" event. It was a day of huge fun for all:

Photo: Long jump was one of the favourites items on the Athletics Day.



Photo: Shot-put was a new item on the list. Due to a lack of training equipment in the bush we used stones (different seizes and weights). MC - the leader of the visiting group looks like a champion himself as he assesses the legality of the throw!


Photo: And what would athletics be without high jump. A potential high jumper attacks the item with zest and determination.

We had a great time with a great time - but even more important we could hear laughter all around! Seeds of transformation was truly planted in the hearts of all who were "present".

LOVE can build a BRIDGE

Africa loves presence. It loves people ..... it loves connecting. Taking time to visit and meet old friends are high on the agenda when it comes to Africans. Africa always accepts you with open arms and invite you to their warm personalities. Kids laugh and loves to pull the hair on your arms -specially if you are a mazungu! It's always touching! When we have visitors visiting from the western world we make sure they understand that "being" and having a "ministry of presence" is sometimes more important that the jobs on hand. Enjoying this presence was a group of more than 25 people from Cape Town.

They travelled more than 3 000 km from Bellville and Blouberg "to be present" with us deep in Africa. They loved the scenery as they travelled ..........

The well know Boabab tree is visible as you enter Zimbabwe on the way to Mozambique.


The Mozambican landscape changes dramatically as you leave Zimbabwe. Lush green bush is visible everywhere.

And then there is the people of Mozambique. Absolutely the friendliest people around. They love their pictures taken. Their hospitality often surprises people.

JOBS GALORE

Then there is the actual reason why many people visit us ...... to help us get the job done. The group participated in:

* Painting our pre-school
* Setting up a playground/sandpit for our pre-schoolers
* Helped with our athletics day at our bush schools
* Doing bush visits to interact within the culture
* Laughing
* Harvesting maize with the communities
* More laughing
* ...... and many more

Some powerful ladies painting the "casa de banho" - Pre-School!

Harvesting maize with the community got some people really motivated!

Our local pastor and leader in the community, Pastor Zarko Kwaramba, enjoying the harvesting session with the westerners.
Yes .... it was hard work. After 2 hours in the sun ................. time to rest.

Not everybody was tired though!

The digging of our sandpit and playing ground was hard work if I read those faces correctly.

Lots of clothing, toys and other goods were donated to help our communities in the bush. One thing was for sure ........... our visitors made a huge impact on our communities. But as they all said: "We have been changed and transformed .......... we though we brought a presence and good news .... but it was Mozambique who taught us about life!" And yes ...... that is Africa. It always takes a piece of your heart and buries it in the red dust ........... only for you to come back to Africa to try and find it again!

A big word of thanks to all who made the visit possible (and for all the donations!)

A special word of thanks to Andre Bester for sponsoring the photos. Andre is a keen photographer and runs his own business: AB PHOTOGRAPHY (www.ABPhoto.co.za)

5...6...7...8.... Cha-cha cha-cha-cha

Photo 1: Suzanna Tipton, the leader of the group of nurses, showing what caring is really about.

Don't think nursing is just about treating sick people.

We have just had 10 of the most wonderful nurses visiting from Prairie College, Alberta, Canada. They did their community "credits" and have been coming back to Mozambique for the last three years with different students. They have done some awesome relief work saving many lives as they submerged into the Mozambican culture.

Photo: Scott weighing in a newborn baby.










The nurses spent hours daily working in households, carrying water, giving love - which heals the sick much quicker than just a tablet, I might add. The nursing team not just showed compassion but they were present in places where many would never dare go.

The group also helped out at the Vanduzi hospital and cared for the many aids orphans in our areas. Immunisation and Tetanus treatments were also given at our schools.

Teaching played an extremely important role as they served the communities surrounding our areas.

"TO STAY HEALTHY EXERCISE IS A NECESSITY ....... LETS GO! " the small nurse commands.

Photo: Nobody was excused during the exercise .... or so it seems.

One of the marvelous things they did was to support the ladies ministry and they did not just teach on preventative measures to live healthy but actually got the ladies to exercise. As I understand (men were not invited) there were a lot of fun and laughter while learning to exercise. Way to go nurses!

Photo: "Oh my goodness ...... this stretching could be hazardous to my health ... I think!"

Thousands of hugs to our caring nursing team who made a huge impact physically, emotionally but also spiritually! God bless!

PS: Thanks to Heather for a few photos borrowed!